Diane M. Dowdy, Ph.D.Interventions PHSB 612

May 8, 2008

ALR 2008: Connecting Active Living

Research to Policy Solutions

Policy Snippets…Policy Snippets…as captured by DMDowdyas captured by DMDowdy

Legislators need words/descriptions they can use to Legislators need words/descriptions they can use to clarify and refine the “vision” clarify and refine the “vision”

Issue of budget rules…present value analysis vs. Issue of budget rules…present value analysis vs. long term impact of prevention on costlong term impact of prevention on cost

In application, policies must be tailored, “simple” In application, policies must be tailored, “simple” and practicaland practical

Congressmen Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Zach Wamp (R-TN)Congressmen Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Zach Wamp (R-TN)

We must educate, advocate, and… We must educate, advocate, and… sometimes legislate sometimes legislate

We need help in place of worship, We need help in place of worship, education facilities, and places of work.education facilities, and places of work.

““The healthy choices must be The healthy choices must be

the easy choices.”the easy choices.”

““We should train community We should train community advocates to use media…advocates to use media…

effectivelyeffectively

and efficiently.”and efficiently.”

““We can’t guarantee our success, We can’t guarantee our success, but we can act in such a way as to but we can act in such a way as to deserve it.”deserve it.”

…John Adams…John Adams

What do I mean by…What do I mean by…

Be sure you have a strategy for taking it Be sure you have a strategy for taking it to scale.to scale.

And, why is that important?And, why is that important?

Impact of Policy Level Impact of Policy Level Interventions…Interventions…

Large number of peopleLarge number of people More cost effectiveMore cost effective Less individual time/involvementLess individual time/involvement May be impacting ‘unknowingly’May be impacting ‘unknowingly’

Policy Strategies…Policy Strategies…

Requires information about Requires information about behaviorbehavior

Can either increase or decrease Can either increase or decrease opportunitiesopportunities

Often utilizes incentivesOften utilizes incentives May “require” or “prohibit”May “require” or “prohibit”

For example: innovative For example: innovative use of stair designuse of stair design

Skip-Stop elevator vs core elevatorSkip-Stop elevator vs core elevator increase in activityincrease in activity decrease in non-productive timedecrease in non-productive time

Next Steps….Next Steps….

Will post on the AFL resource/toolkits Will post on the AFL resource/toolkits some of the power-point presentations some of the power-point presentations when I have access to them.when I have access to them.

Our listing of resource web sites will be Our listing of resource web sites will be posted on the AFL web site until we work posted on the AFL web site until we work out a permanent location.out a permanent location.

As new sites are identified, they will be As new sites are identified, they will be added to the listing. added to the listing.

If you find resource helpful to others…If you find resource helpful to others…send to me and we’ll include it.send to me and we’ll include it.